Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got rid of a $ 90,000 libel lawsuit brought by a Quebecer who apostrophized him on “his illegal immigrants” from Chemin Roxham during a political rally in 2018.
Superior Court judge Michèle Monast decided that she did not even need a trial: she dismissed Diane Blain’s action without further delay, calling it “manifestly ill-founded” but also “abusive” .
The woman, who was then 74 years old, attended a liberal political rally that took place in Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois in August 2018 with the aim of confronting him and expressing her disagreement with his positions, particularly in matters of ‘immigration.
There, she interrupted him several times at the start of his speech and prevents him from speaking.
“I want to know when you will give us the $ 146 million we paid for your illegal immigrants,” she said. At the time, many asylum seekers crossed a small dirt road called “Roxham Road” in order to claim refugee status in the country. The federal government and that of Quebec then did not agree on who should pay their hospitality expenses.
Questioned repeatedly, Justin Trudeau replied: “Madam, this intolerance in relation to immigrants, it has no place in Canada, this intolerance in relation to diversity, you have no place here”, among others things, including: “Your racism has no place here. “
“Mr. Trudeau, are you tolerant of native Quebecers? », She relaunched.
Despite everything, she continues to curse him as he goes to meet his supporters and when she is held back by the arm by the RCMP who ensure the safety of the Prime Minister, she will say that she has been mistreated and even injured. by the police. She took care to make sure everything was filmed, the judge wrote in her decision.
She decided to prosecute the Prime Minister for attacking his dignity and reputation and also argues that his freedom of expression has been infringed, as has his right to be treated “without discrimination”. According to her, his comments calling her a racist and intolerant are insults.
The judge is not kind to the lady: there is no evidence that Mr. Trudeau was at fault, she writes, nor is there any evidence that Ms. Blain suffered prejudice. . She does not believe in her testimony “filled with contradictions, exaggerations and improbabilities”.
Judge Monast decides that the woman came to this rally in order to disrupt it, accompanied by other people with whom she shares “the nationalist ideology of the extreme right”.
Her lack of civility, her aggressive tone, her hostile attitude show that she was trying to provoke him and not just ask him questions as she supports him.
“It is possible that Mr. Trudeau’s remarks offended Ms. Blain’s self-esteem, but that is not enough to qualify them as defamatory.”
According to the judge, it did not damage the reputation of the woman who took care of it herself with her attitude and the words she said. By focusing on immigrants and “native Quebecers”, she suggested that there were two categories of Quebecers and a hierarchy that separates them, adds the judge.
“The court not only has the power, but the duty to put an end to this case. “
Ms. Blain has 30 days to appeal.